Šefčovič to Focus on SEE Interconnections

While Russia confirmed its intention to drop the South Stream project, Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič says that interconnections in South-East Europe are a priority of the Juncker Commission. 

Šefčovič met with representatives from Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Italy, Romania and Slovenia on Tuesday to discuss the establishment of a High Level Working Group. The organisation should study ways to increase investments to integrate regional energy markets and progress with an Energy Union, taking into consideration the needs of Member States that could pay the consequences of Russian decision to scrap the project connecting Russia to Italy and Austria. 

“We will now intensify our work with the Member States of the Central Eastern Europe and South-East Europe on the interconnection of the European markets and diversification of gas supplies. These are the objectives of the future Energy Union, which is a priority of the new Commission” Šefčovič said in a note released on Thursday after a conversation with Russian Minister for Energy Alexander Novak. 

Šefčovič committed to announce a proposal for the High Level Working Group, recommending a fit-for-purpose organisational structure.

The European Commission also said that Novak reported that Russian decision is irreversible. 

‘Minister Novak confirmed to Vice-President Šefčovič that the South Stream Project would no longer be pursued by Russia.’